How I came to be in Australia is still a bit of a mystery to me. I think at some point over a large amount of warm beer and gin & tonic I said let’s got to Australia and live the dream. I blame those damn daytime TV programmes myself! A thorough medical, where only doctors know no boundaries, a long tedious flight, house sale that took three attempts and a year later here I am in Perth living the dream.
So what’s Perth like? Well I can only describe it as a cross between Skippy and Neighbours and for those old enough to recall Prisoner Cell block H.
Having said all that Perth is an extraordinary place with a weird charm that grows on you. When you stand on Barrack Street just off the main shopping centre in the middle of the city you could be in any major city, anywhere, same shopping malls, fast food chains, lost tourists and so on. The magic is when you go out of the city. I live 45k east of Perth in a house on its own in the middle of a wood. All the other houses in the area are the same, 7 or so acres in between them and nothing but bushland. Many of the grass trees are hundreds of years old, locally known as black boys (no longer pc but hey I am only a migrant.) The forest is deep and lush, ‘bush’ kind of implies single item not much else and there is that too, vast areas of nothing once you leave the city but you do not expect acres and acres of trees tall as the eye can see in long straight rows touching the horizon in every direction. You have to see it to believe the beauty. In the late evening sun and early morning rays you can see spider webs glistening in the light with its occupants busy weaving for the day ahead.
I can not say this year has not been hard, because it has, selling a house, moving to a new country enforced marriage separation leaving family and friends, those day time TV people should be shot, because it does not even begin to comprehend the enormity of what living the dream entails. Would I do it again? Ask me this time next year!
On my first arrival I stayed in the very posh and expensive Hyatt because it was an online deal and there was nowhere else available! I was met at the airport by my university rep along with lots of bedraggled kids less than half my age talking about fresher week, price of beer and roll ups. After 2 hours wait for a kid that got lost in the airport we were taken to our digs in a Scooby Doo van. When we got to the Hyatt after dropping off at various points including the YMCA the guy says to me ‘you sure you staying here, I think I better wait for you outside’ I assured him that yes I had a booking and yes it was right so he drove off in the mystery machine looking at me like I was insane. Obviously students don’t normally stay in hotels I felt like I was a fraud on a club eighteen to 30 outing that was about to be found out and declared old and uncool.
Everyone should stay in the Hyatt it is awesome best breakfast I have ever had in my life! But then it should be for $50 (yes that’s right 50 big ones). Ian, my husband, always said I had delusions of grandeur now he just thinks I’m delusional and he’s probably right J
Animals we have encountered; spiders too many species to name, my favourite are wolf spiders closely followed by the Christmas spider which looks nothing like a spider at all but still dangerous enough not to touch it. Kangaroos running wild, Ben my son came across one at the end of the drive up here in the hills. It is a popular myth that kangaroos are a common site in Australia, as in hanging around on every corner. However on an expedition to the inner woods on a four-wheel drive club picnic we came across kangaroos and the true blue Aussies were as enthralled as we were to see them. Blue tongue skinks are weird little lizard type things about 6 to 12 inches long and like a fat sausage roll, known locally as bobtails. The skink first came to light when the carpet cleaner was here on moving day there was one sitting in the middle of the drive (skink not carpet cleaner) I freaked out remembering Steve Irwin and something about kimono dragons and biting fingers off when the cleaner got out the van picked it up (much to its hissing displeasure) and literally through it away shook his head laughed and asked if I would be ok out here I replied in true Aussie drawl although somewhat weak, no worries mate she’ll be right!
Ian's (The Hubby) Blog available at: Shipped to Oz
